Version Control

Version control systems are packages that can record multiple versions of a source file, usually storing the unchanged parts of the file just once. Version control systems also record history information such as the creation time of each version, who created it, and a description of what was changed in that version.

The Emacs version control interface is called VC. Its commands work with three version control systems--RCS, CVS, and SCCS. The GNU project recommends RCS and CVS, which are free software and available from the Free Software Foundation. We also have free software to replace SCCS, known as CSSC; if you are using SCCS and don't want to make the incompatible change to RCS or CVS, you can switch to CSSC.

• Introduction to VC: How version control works in general.
• VC Mode Line: How the mode line shows version control status.
• Basic VC Editing: How to edit a file under version control.
• Old Versions: Examining and comparing old versions.
• Secondary VC Commands: The commands used a little less frequently.
• Branches: Multiple lines of development.
• Remote Repositories: Efficient access to remote CVS servers.
• Snapshots: Sets of file versions treated as a unit.
• Miscellaneous VC: Various other commands and features of VC.
• Customizing VC: Variables that change VC's behavior.

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